Systems and methods for real-time optoelectronic assessments of fluid volume in fluid dispensing systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for real-time optoelectronic assessments of fluid volume and other fluid properties in fluid dispensing systems are described. The systems and methods include the use of optoelectronic and software algorithms to aid in the determination of fluid volume and other fluid properties, before, during and/or after the fluid dispensing process. The systems and methods described herein allow the fluid dispensing system and its user to have a feedback of real-time data about the dispensing fluid volume and other fluid properties and hence would improve the control, speed and quality of the fluid dispensing system and its dispensed fluid.

1 . A fluid dispensing system comprising:
 a. one or more distance ranging apparatus;   b. one or more processing element capable of processing the data coming from the distance ranging apparatus;   c. one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising:
 i. one or more process algorithms capable of quantifying one or more fluid properties based on the data gathered by the distance ranging apparatus and other available sources of information; and 
 ii. one or more learning algorithms capable of modifying and adjusting the fluid dispensing system parameters based on one or more fluid properties; 
   d. one or more control element;   e. one or more communication interface elements operably connecting and capable of communicating distance ranging data and the information driven from it among the one or more distance ranging apparatus, one or more processing element, one or more control element and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid properties are chosen from one or more of fluid volume, mass, weight, flow rate, density, viscosity, temperature, pressure, specific volume, specific weight and/or specific gravity. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sources of information are chosen from one or more of the fluid dispensing system user, one or more of processing element generated data, one or more analog sensors and/or one or more digital sensors. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus are chosen from one or more of optical ranging apparatus, one or more of laser ranging apparatus, one or more of ultrasonic ranging apparatus, one or more of radar ranging apparatus, one or more of sonar ranging apparatus and/or one or more LIDAR ranging apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing element are chosen from one or more of hardware processing element, one or more of software processing element, one or more of systems processing element, one or more of computer processing element, one or more of central processing unit, one or more of microprocessor application-specific instruction set processor, one or more of physics processing unit, one or more of digital signal processor, one or more of image processor, one or more of coprocessor, one or more of floating-point unit, one or more of network processor, one or more multi-core processor, one or more of front-end processor, one or more information processor, one or more data processing system and/or one or more information system. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media include one or more sets of computer-executable instructions for providing an operating system as well as for implementing the algorithms and methods of the invention. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more sets of computer-executable instructions are programmed from one or more of any suitable programming languages including JavaScript, C, C#, C++, Java, Python, Perl, Ruby, Swift, Visual Basic, and Objective C. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , comprising one or more additional components chosen from one or more motors, one or more dispensing syringes, one or more dispensing fluids, one or more dispensing barrels, one or more dispensing fluid containers, one or more platforms, one or more operating controls, one or more power cables, one or more USB cables, one or more communication cables and/or one or more data cables. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus and/or one or more processing element are in communication with or integrated with one or more databases. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus and/or one or more processing element are in communication with or integrated with one or more databases for storing one or more dispensing fluid properties. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus and/or one or more processing element are in communication with or integrated with one or more databases for storing one or more dispensing fluid properties, which one or more dispensing fluid properties are capable of being shared and compared across batches and users. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus comprise one or more infrared, one or more near-infrared, one or more visible, and/or one or more UV light source. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distance ranging apparatus comprise one or more LASER, one or more light emitting diode light source, one or more incandescence light source, one or more aventurescence light source, one or more bioluminescence light source, one or more cathodoluminescence light source, one or more chemiluminescence light source, one or more cryoluminescence light source, one or more crystalloluminescence light source, one or more electrochemiluminescence light source, one or more electroluminescence light source, one or more mechanoluminescence light source, one or more photoluminescence light source, one or more radioluminescence light source and/or one or more thermoluminescence light source. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control element are chosen from one or more of microcontroller, one or more system on a chip, one or more computer, one or more processor unit, one or more central processing unit and/or one or more embedded controller unit. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more air pressure and/or one or more positive displacement mechanisms can be used to dispense the dispensing fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the system can be operated manually and/or automatically. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the system can be utilized for home use, small volume production and/or mass production setting. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more dispensing fluids are chosen from one or more adhesives, one or more bait gels, one or more braze pastes, one or more epoxies, one or more greases, one or more lubricants, one or more room temperature vulcanizing sealants, one or more silicones, one or more solder pastes and/or one or more thermal compounds. 
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of 3D bioprinting comprising:
 determining one or more desired printing characteristic chosen from one or more of shape, uniformity, thickness, size, and/or color of a deposited structure from one or more images and/or video of a first printed structure produced by a 3D printer or bioprinter;   dispensing one or more bioink according to one or more printing parameters to achieve the desired printing characteristic;   modifying and/or adjusting printing instructions and/or printing parameters based on one or more fluid properties to produce a desired 3D bioprinted structure;   wherein the dispensing is performed using a fluid dispensing system comprising:
 a. one or more distance ranging apparatus; 
 b. one or more processing element capable of processing the data coming from the distance ranging apparatus; 
 c. one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising:
 i. one or more process algorithms capable of quantifying one or more fluid properties based on the data gathered by the distance ranging apparatus and other available sources of information; and 
 ii. one or more learning algorithms capable of modifying and adjusting the fluid dispensing system parameters based on one or more fluid properties; 
 
 d. one or more control element; and 
 e. one or more communication interface elements operably connecting and capable of communicating distance ranging data and the information driven from it among the one or more distance ranging apparatus, one or more processing element, one or more control element and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media. 
   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the printing parameters are chosen from one or more of applied pressure, strain, force, or flow, printhead translation rate, bioink temperature, bioink composition, print surface temperature, layer height, infill pattern and density, nozzle diameter, nozzle shape, and/or nozzle material.